Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Christine Presents: The Disillusioned

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THE DISILLUSIONED

By

D.J.
Williams

BLURB:

A mother’s suicide threatens to destroy a
family legacy. Her sons, Sam and Daniel, are forced to leave their comfortable
worlds behind and search for a woman they believe can unlock the secrets that
have remained hidden. They are propelled into separate journeys from Los
Angeles to the heart of the Zambezi where they are forced to confront a man
known as Die Duiwel, the Devil. On their adventures they will find themselves
in a place where death is one breath away, where thousands of children are
disappearing into the darkness, and where the woman they are searching for is
on the hunt for revenge. When they stand face-to-face with the forgotten slaves
of Africa they will fight to redeem what has been lost.

EXCERPT:

Drops
of rain turned into a torrential downpour as Danny and Sam stood drenched at
the edge of a deep hole and a fresh mound of dirt. The casket had already been
lowered into the ground, evident by the arm of a crane hovering overhead. A
groundskeeper kept his distance a few yards away, careful to allow the boys their
final goodbye.

A
week ago they were living their own life, far removed from the darkness that
had stolen their mother. One shouldered the guilt of a tarnished legacy while
the other grew increasingly restless to return to his isolated world.

Danny
was still reeling from his face to face with Bowman. How were they going to pay
back the money? Where was the money? Why was it stolen in the first place?
Should they even do anything, since neither was legally liable? He needed
answers.

A
wave of anger flushed over Danny as he thought of all his family had lost.
Thousands of sermons preached by a man who now seemed as addicted to the
almighty dollar as the people who passed the offering plate. He knew his father
kept secrets, but nothing had prepared him for the news Bowman planted on him.

REVIEW
SOUND BYTES

“A fast-paced
mystery…you won’t put it down until

you’ve unlocked the
secrets and lies to find the truth.”

Judith McCreary,
Co-Executive Producer

Law & Order: SVU,
Criminal Minds, & CSI

“Riveting...an
indelible picture painted with suspense.”

Mitch Kruse, Author of
Restoration Road

“An engrossing
tale…makes you think about the world we live in and your place in it.”

With the DNA of a world traveler, Williams was born in Hong
Kong, has ventured into the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the
slums of the Far East, to share stories of those who are overcoming incredible
odds. He is the co-author of Restoration
Road with Mitch Kruse and has produced and directed over 140 television
episodes syndicated on NBC, ABC, FOX and various cable networks worldwide.
Currently, he lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife.

The blurb sounds very sweeping. Do you draw on your world travels in helping you to write? What kind of research did you have to do for The Disillusioned? As a librarian, I'm always interested in the research process of authors.catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

Hi Everyone! Christine, thank you for hosting The Disillusioned! Growing up in Hong Kong I was always surrounded by friends from different cultures. It gave me a perspective that has stuck with me. I've traveled the world for both work and pleasure. I've been given the opportunity to meet many unique people and listened to their stories. They have definitely colored my writing. On this issue of trafficking I had to do quite a bit of research. As many of us know, millions are being sold into slavery. Human trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world. It is not just something that is happening in third world countries, it is happening here in the U.S. as well. Knowing that is reality I decided before The Disillusioned was finished that I wanted to do what I could to help make a difference. So, for every book sold we are making a donation to the “Let’s Respond” Campaign, which is headed up by the F.A.C.T. Alliance in Orange County, CA.

I was coming out of a difficult year both personally and professionally. Two unexpected deaths in my family only thirty days apart and a business venture that ended shortly after. For months I wondered what was happening. I didn't know at the time but this season would change the direction of my life. I started writing this story. I never expected the twists and turns that followed. Actually, I was discovering the story along the way. The deeper I immersed myself the more I knew it would involve the theme of human trafficking. I hoped it would make people judge the truth for themselves and make a choice to get involved in some way.

I think working in any type of creative media helps when you crossover into another aspect of visual or written storytelling. In all of these areas you’re trying to tell a story that is compelling for the viewer/reader. You need to grab their attention and then keep it throughout. That’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned from the projects I’ve been involved in. Also, on the television side I work mainly as a producer or director so it’s a different frame of mind from writing. I’m always watching the clock, the schedule, the shots and making sure I’m getting what we need to cut an episode together. For me, writing The Disillusioned was an escape from all of that. I took my time. I wrote alone. No one read a single word until I was nearly finished. It was much more solitary than directing or producing, which I enjoyed.